FPP - Google maps

In my class, we are working on the topic: "Hooray... Let's go on a holiday!". One of our geography tasks was to look at different ways people travel to their holiday destinations.

As a carpet activity, we looked at how we might find out the methods of transport for our favourite holiday destinations. Google maps helped us do this by showing the children the distance between Middleton (where our school is) and the holiday destination. We then looked at the travelling options and discussed the best way to travel.

Here are some examples:

Middleton to Blackpool

Middleton to Disneyland Paris

FPP - Bee bots in maths

We used bee bots for a maths lesson on quarter turns and half turns. Bee bots were used to explore how many quarter turns are needed to face a certain direction, and other commands that are needed to reach a certain destination.

Using bee bots helped children visualise what quarter turns and half turns are whilst also enhancing their computing abilities. The work on bee bots can then be consolidated using worksheets in which children follow certain instructions (e.g. make a quarter turn to the right and move forward 5) on a treasure map to find different treasures.

GPP - Interactive games for maths

ICT was a great way of making maths enjoyable. I used interactive resources a lot for increasing children's competence with fractions. Here are some that the children enjoyed a lot.

The first one is 'racing on', where the bikes can move by 1/4, 1/2 or 1. It can be played by either 1 or 2 players. For the lesson, I printed out the race course as an A3 sheet, laminated it, and created my own fraction cards so that children can play the game in groups of 5.



Children absolutely loved the game element and were practicing counting on fractions whilst having fun.

Another interactive resource I used allowed children to match equivalent fractions as a class. I picked students to come up and pick a pair of equivalent fractions. The timed element made the activity a little more exciting. There are three levels so the game can be easily differentiated.

GPP - Flip videos for end of topic project

At the end of our topic on Ancient Greece, the children started their project on creating a 'Horrible Histories' type film using all the knowledge they have learnt about the life in Ancient Greece. It was the children's (and my) first time to use a flip video but they are EXTREMELY easy to use. Just a few buttons so it's the perfect equipment for schools. It's easy to import the videos into the computer as well and the students can quickly edit their films using an editing software such as iMovie.  

Using a flip video to create videos is a great way to demonstrate children's learning at the end of a big topic. Children enjoy it and are enthusiastic about sharing all they know, and it's an effective way to encourage children to link their learning from different subjects. For KS2, children should be able to use the flip videos themselves and film each other. Perhaps for KS1, it is better for the teacher or TA to film the children. 

Using videos to showcase development (Happy Holidays)

I've been practicing the ukulele and I was able to play this song for my class in my last week of GPP.

In terms of ICT use, filming pupil's development of a skill, especially in music (e.g. practicing the ukulele) and p.e. (e.g. practicing a dance routine) is a great way of showcasing pupil progress and development. Parents can enjoy watching their child's progress and the students themselves can reflect on how they have improved, and further room for improvement.

In terms of e-safety, it is possible to share videos privately where only the people who have the video link can access the video. Effective discussions can be made regarding the dangers of sharing a video publicly.

GPP - ICT for learning about Greek vases

To teach the pupils about Greek vases (linking with their English topic on Greek myths and History), I used some very useful web resources.

I used a video from the Art Institute of Chicago (Ancient Greek Vase Production and the Black-Figure Technique) to demonstrate how Greek vases were made. The children were hooked by the video as the process used to create a beautiful Greek vase depicting what life was like 2000 years ago.

I then used a fun resource from Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (Greek Pot painter) which allows pupils to design their own Greek vase. It demonstrated really well that the parts painted in slip turned black after it was fired in the kiln.

The children printed their designs after they finished. Here's an example from one of the pupils. 

GPP - Using document cameras in maths

The document camera is such a useful equipment!

I used it to model drawing a line graph in a maths lesson. 
I drew the axis while asking reasoning questions like what the numbers on the side should be and what the labels should be. 

I then plotted the first point and then asked the pupils to come up one by one to plot a point. 

It was a good whole class activity and allowed children to practice their line graph skills.